June 5, 2012 -
Mayor Madeline Rogero and Deputy to the Mayor/Chief Policy Officer Bill Lyons had lunch with members of the University of Tennessee's Haslam Scholars Program today at the City County Building.

The Haslam Scholars Program, founded in 2008 upon a generous gift from Jimmy and Dee Haslam and Jim and Natalie Haslam, has flourished as a unique and diverse honors enrichment program in which top students learn from and with one another through a series of integrated, interdisciplinary seminars and extracurricular experiences.

Haslam Scholars serve as high-profile undergraduate leaders whose lofty academic ambitions match those of the program and the institution.

The Haslam Scholars Program admits 15 first-year students annually. Scholars undertake a curriculum which totals twenty-eight credit hours and extends from a one-credit summer program for newly matriculating first-year scholars to a one-credit senior-year research colloquium. The curriculum also includes general education seminars that provide orientation to key contemporary leadership challenges and which draw on the University of Tennessee's recognized academic strengths in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. It also includes an all-expense paid study abroad program, professional development and community service, and extensive faculty-mentored Honors Thesis research.

2012 HASLAM SCHOLARS

Summer AwadHardin Valley AcademyKnoxville, TNLanguages and Religious Studies
Summer Awad has studied Arabic, Latin, and Mandarin Chinese. She plans to study comparative religion and imagines a career in international and intercultural affairs.

Chris BarnesHardin Valley AcademyKnoxville, TNBiological Sciences
Chris Barnes has enrolled in 13 AP courses and is a swimmer. He is an alumnus of the Governor's School for the Sciences and Engineering.

Benjamin BrockJefferson County High SchoolJefferson City, TNComputer Science
Ben Brock serves as captain/co-captain of the Scholar's Bowl and Debate Team and as a member the Math and Science Bowl teams and German National Honor Society.

Franco D'AprileWestview High School/ChileMartin, TN / Santiago, ChileGeology & Environmental Studies
Franco D'Aprile will combine study of natural and social science in an environmental studies major. He aspires to an international career, perhaps via the United Nations.

Sarah HagamanFranklin High SchoolNashville, TNClassicsSarah Hagaman is the founder of the National Honors Society at her school, President of the National English Honors Society, and Captain of the Varsity Basketball Team. She contributes to the Franklin High Literary Arts Magazine.

Macy HarrisonCentennial High SchoolFrisco, TXSociology
Macy Harrison plans to major in sociology or social work. Her interest in human society and problem-solving leads her to imagine a career in global public policy.

Craig JonesFranklin High SchoolFranklin, TNGlobal Studies
Craig Jones is student body vice president and editor-in-chief of his school newspaper. He plans a Global Studies major and a career in international development.

Ben MillerMiddle Creek High SchoolRaleigh, NCUndecided Major
Ben Miller is a member of the UTK Vols Swimming & Diving Team and a student whose interests range from culture to natural science and include Spanish.

Andrea RichardsonWhite Station High SchoolMemphis, TNBiomedical Engineering
Andrea Richardson participated in the 2010 and 2011 Carnegie Mellon University Summer Academy for Math and Science. She is a vocalist and enjoys learning Spanish.

Katie Lou RogersFranklin County High SchoolWinchester, TNBiomedical Engineering
Katie Lou Rogers has undertaken several AP courses as independent studies. She imagines earning a Ph.D., pursuing research, and someday perhaps founding her own school.

Sahba SeddighiFarragut High SchoolKnoxville, TNBiological Sciences
Sahba Seddighi imagines a career in neuroscience or neurology. She has studied nuclear science at Michigan State University and is currently a research intern in virology/immunology at UTK.

Elizabeth StanfieldSouth Side High SchoolJackson, TNUndecided Major
Elizabeth Stanfield is a pianist, track team captain, Beta Club President, and former student body president. She worked with Habitat for Humanity for three years.

Tor VoorheesBearden High SchoolKnoxville, TNUndecided Major - Engineering
Tor Voorhees is Science Olympiad team president and past Science Bowl captain at his school. He has served as a research intern in the UTK Department of Animal Science.